La Russa tells Franklin he will get shot at starting rotation

~ The pitcher, acquired through free agency, had been told earlier there wasn't much room for competition.

JUPITER, Fla. -- St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Ryan Franklin got a boost in his effort to break into the pitching rotation Sunday from none other than manager Tony La Russa.

Pitching coach Dave Duncan's said last week there wasn't much room for competition to get onto the team's pitching rotation. The day before pitchers and catchers reported he said five guys "will get the priority" for the lineup.

But La Russa overruled his longtime assistant, and said Sunday the rotation is wide open behind ace Chris Carpenter. The rest of Duncan's top five: Kip Wells, Anthony Reyes, Adam Wainwright and Braden Looper.

"Had I been asked that question before Dave, what I would have said is we have Carp and we have six or seven guys for four spots," La Russa said. "That's how I thought coming in.

"That's how I would have answered it and that's how I still think."

Franklin said he was told there's "plenty of opportunity" when he signed a one-year, $1 million contract during the offseason.

"There wasn't any guarantees besides Carpenter," Franklin said. "I just look that as a great opportunity coming here and getting back to starting."

Franklin, 33, started 94 games from 2003-05 in Seattle before Philadelphia turned him into a set up man last season. Franklin had 66 appearances between the Phillies and Reds in 2006, all in relief.

Franklin, a right-hander, has started 106 games in his career. He is 41-57 with a 4.35 ERA in 247 games.

Franklin believes he will get a fair shot.

"I'm here to work my butt off and do whatever I can to get into that starting rotation. You never know what can happen."

"My whole career I've never had anything given to me, I've never had anything set in stone."